Empowering adolescent girls through technology

In partnership with BT, we will deliver a three-year strategic programme (2019-2022), using technology to inform – and transform – the lives of adolescent girls in India.

Working in Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Mumbai, we will directly improve the lives of 100,000 adolescent girls and reach a further 500,000. 

We will enable girls to access information, skills and opportunities - improving their understanding of equality, supporting their employability, and informing them about support for good health.

Philip Jansen, Chief Executive, BT Group

"The world of work has changed enormously during the 30 years BT has been in India. We recognise that digital technologies have the potential to transform opportunities for this and future generations of girls. We’re delighted to be partnering with the British Asian Trust.”

Problem

About 10% of India’s population are adolescent girls. India has the highest rate of teen pregnancy globally and 18% of girls drop out before the end of secondary school.  Lack of opportunities mean that girls have little control over their own futures.

Solution

The programme aims to empower girls through information and skills-building in various areas:

creating a foundation for life-long learning
increasing employability
developing confidence in decision making about personal health
improving understanding of the rights of women and girls within communities.

This programme is strengthened by employee volunteering opportunities for the team of 10,500 BT staff based in India – including help with communications, mentoring and workshops, IT development of open source material and school ‘adoption’ fundraising.

Delivery partners for this programme

Going to School is a creative not-for-profit that makes design-driven content to teach children and young people 21st Century skills in school, online, and on national television.
IT for Change promotes innovative and effective use of digital technology for socio-economic change in the global south.
Breakthrough India mobilises and inspires people to fight for the rights of women and girls by catalysing leadership in communities to change deep-rooted cultural norms that perpetuate gender-based discrimination and violence.
Etasha Society is a not-for-profit society providing vocational training with placement as well as employability skills training and career guidance to young people from disadvantaged communities in India.
Mentor Together is India’s first and largest youth mentorship organization.
People for Action works in government secondary schools to improve the learning outcomes of children, increasing their transition to higher education and access to career opportunities.